You can sail through the day with barely a twinge, then the moment your head hits the pillow the burning starts. Or you wake up at 2 a.m. with a sour taste in your mouth and a cough that just won't settle. If that sounds familiar, you're not imagining it, and you're definitely not alone.
GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) has a well-known habit of flaring up at night. The reasons are actually pretty straightforward once you know what's going on.
What Is GORD, Quickly?
GORD happens when stomach acid flows back up into the oesophagus (the food pipe). There's a ring of muscle at the bottom of the oesophagus, the lower oesophageal sphincter, that's supposed to act like a one-way valve. When it doesn't close properly, acid can escape upwards. That's what causes the classic burning, the regurgitation, the nasty taste, and sometimes a cough or hoarse voice.
Symptoms are often worse after eating, when bending over, and especially when you lie down.
